August Harlow

“You’re very insightful. Did you figure out that the hard way or the easy way?” She raised a brow in question. It was in that moment Doutzen decided she liked this guy. Well she liked him enough to continue the conversation. She wasn’t entirely sure she could trust her intuition as to whether or not she may like him as a person or possible friend. “I learned that the hard way. Although I now have an amazing closet, because of it.”

“It’s not,” Dooutzen shrugged her shoulders as she took in their surroundings, “I only know the look on your face because I’ve seen it before.” She eye’d jut about every person around them, wondering when her unease would leave her. This was Hallow Grove after all. She should be able to trust the people of this town. “It would be nice if there was something you could buy in a store to make your problems better.”

August listened the woman and nodded softly. He didn’t ask why the expression on his face was familiar, because he didn’t want to pry, but he did believe her words. “That really would be. But unfortunately there isn’t. Sometimes it feels like if you buy enough new things the feeling goes away, but in the end it doesn’t help. You are just avoiding what is really there.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, being an astronaut sounds blissful.” Mira wanted to ask why the male never followed the dream yet she wasn’t want to pry. “Oh, I bet you cook excellent food,” Mira hummed at the thought of a good homemade dish. “I’m a photographer and filmographer but also work waitress at Grace’s Dine – little bit of everything.” 

August chuckled warmly. “Being a chef in a restaurant kinda requires to be rather excellent with making food. So I guess I am.” And there his humble nature was again, not saying he was good, just saying he probably was. “Photographing and filmographing must be an interesting work to do. Are there some certain things you like to work with, like take pictures of children or maybe weddings or scenery or something completely different?”

“Yeah? I’ll agree with that. I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from the night sky. The comic I’m working on partially takes place in space.”

“Could I maybe read one of your comics someday?” August asked carefully, hoping it wasn’t too much to ask. “I mean, if you want to show them to others and like.. let others read them.”

 A small laugh escaped. “Very true. Not sure I’m much of a champion, but maybe some day.” The quiet at the table wasn’t uncomfortable especially when there was a chocolate muffin to be enjoyed. “Yeah, it’s dry, but really hot most of the year. Not long, just about six months now. I really like it. It’s a lot quieter here. I kinda like the small town thing, you know? How about you? If it’s okay that I ask.” 

August smiled at the younger male nodding his head. Everyone was a champion in their own way, some came that earlier, some later, but everyone surely would find that point in their life eventually. “I think there is something quaint in small towns. Not that I’ve ever seen any other place than New Orleans, but compared to that Hallow Grove is really small”, he admitted with a smile. “Of course, I don’t mind questions. I’m a Hallow Grove native, so to say. Born and raised here like a lot of my family members. We have long roots in this town.”

Toni knew what she was talking about when it came to style and seeing what looked good. She didn’t know why but the Saturn necklace kinda spoke for August in her head. “You should and if you want, you can tag along with me while shopping we can get some food?” 

August smiled a bit wider at the woman and nodded. “If you really don’t mind having company it would be really nice.”

“Dumpster, huh?” He mumbled tiredly as he sank back down into the comfort of the pillows beneath him. “Not the worst I’ve been in.” A snort would’ve followed his words if he didn’t have pins and needles shooting around in his skull at the moment. “Can’t blame my drunk self for thinkin’ that. -’s a nice bed ya got here.” Donovan yawned before he sighed a little. “Donovan, but ya can call me Donny t’ save the time, mouthful, whatever the sayin’ goes by.”

August chuckled softly at the comment. “I think it’s still better you slept here than in the dumpster.” Plus August probably would have been being angry at himself if he wouldn’t have brought the drunken man into his home to sleep. “Good that you slept well.” August moved a bit on the doorway as he smiled at his guest. “It’s nice to meet you, Donovan. Would you like some breakfast?”

Kaleb didn’t want this to turn awkward, he wanted to refrain himself from being a hot mess of word vomit. He was cautious with what he was saying but at the same time he had to tell August the truth. He couldn’t just skip out on what was happening because they were friends. It wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t tell August he was in a relationship but it wasn’t fair to August’s feelings at all. When August had asked, Kaleb had a long pause before answering to his friend. “His name is Walker Straid.” Kaleb had talked about Walker once or twice before to August and now that things were getting heavy, Kaleb wanted to be there with Walker as much more than just friendship. In an outside perspective this looked terrible, he knew it but Kaleb was trying to handle everything in a calm state. 

August moved away from the hug leaning his head into his hands. “No no no no no..” It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. It really can’t be. Not someone August knew, not someone who he knew things about. Why couldn’t it be a stranger, why couldn’t it be anyone else. Now August would only end up comparing himself to Walker and think about his own flaws -- how he wasn’t closer to Kaleb’s age, why he wasn’t nerd the same way Kaleb was, why he was exactly everything else what Walker was. And then the self-blame got even deeper in him. “I’ve ruined everything. I’m a terrible human being.” If only August would have known about any of this before he let his feelings get the best of him. If only he would have been smart like he usually was. Why had he been so pathetic and weak? This was terrible. Horrible. And all his fault.

“No- no you didn’t ruin anything. I am at fault for everything that has happened but him and I are going to try a relationship.” He said to August, trying not to be awkward about it but at least letting August know. Kaleb talking about going into a relationship, and just in general taking this step was huge from all his heart ache in the past and how he had very little trust. But with Walker it felt like Kaleb could be that person, he could be happy and be able to tell the man anything. 

August knew very well how hard it was for Kaleb to start a relationship with someone, but knowing there was someone it felt even harder to take that someone wasn’t him. August had been there for Kaleb for everything, he had given him space when he had needed it, he had been there even when Kaleb didn’t need him. He had listened, he had heard things no one else ever had. And now there was someone who had gotten Kaleb’s interest the way August hadn’t. It hurt, but still August just nodded his head. He’d just push his thoughts away, he’d just.. be they way they used to be around each other. But since there was someone else, someone more important, in Kaleb’s life now August knew from now one multiple things they had wouldn’t be there anymore. Things wouldn’t be the same, no matter how August had said nothing would change. But then again, this wasn’t them changing, this was someone else coming and changing things. August would be on the second place and he wouldn’t be the one hearing everything anymore. Even if Kaleb would promise their relationship wouldn’t change, August knew it would. August wouldn’t be the number one for Kaleb anymore. “Who is it?” he eventually asked, because he knew he had to know it now and not later.

Keeping August in his hold, it was a hug that was missed for two and half weeks. Something that needed to happen and within the hug, the pain felt lesser. Kaleb could only hope that they would move past this and he knew that it would take time for August to heal, Kaleb just had to be patient and be there for August whenever he needed. “I know” He whispered back. “And I’ll be here for you.” He said as the hug soon came to an end. Pulling back slightly as he brushed his hand down to rest on top of August’s. “Um.. I know this is a lot to take in and everything, I want to make sure you’re okay but I have to tell you why as well. August it’s not that I wouldn’t be with you, I care and love you but as a friend and I know it sucks hearing this.” He started to ramble on. “I just want to be honest and tell you everything, it’s just I have strong feelings for someone else” 

The hug really was telling the truth of how August really needed Kaleb in his life. He didn’t even feel himself anymore if Kaleb would be gone, the long silence between them had proved it. But when Kaleb moved away from the hug it felt extremely hard to let him go, but he had to. He wiped his cheeks a bit, sniffled and just watched at Kaleb as the man talked. August nodded his head few times, but when he heard Kaleb had feelings for someone else.. His gaze lowered down and he nodded again. “I hope I didn’t ruin anything”, he said with a quiet tone and in a way he hoped who ever the person was who Kaleb had these feelings wasn’t someone August knew, because if he knew the person he probably would automatically start to compare himself to the other and.. well.. yeah.

This wasn’t a happy moment but at least him and August were talking, although tears were involved. It hurt throughout this whole situation as the silence was just to soak in everything. Turning to August he nodded. “Yea” Bringing August into a tight embrace, as if saying goodbye to a part of that friendship. The bond that Kaleb had broken and some of the trust he had broken but hopefully to recover something new and move past. 

August was thankful to feel Kaleb’s arms around him. It felt so.. homey. It shouldn’t, it definitely shouldn’t, but August couldn’t help it. He felt safe there, even that his heart was aching. In a way August hoped there would be a way to change Kaleb’s thoughts about them, that August would still have a chance, but he knew that wouldn’t happen. August was friendzoned and that would be his spot. One day he’d be more than fine with it, it’d just need some time. August was hugging Kaleb tightly, not saying a word, he just hugged the man not wanting to let him go as the tears kept falling down his cheeks. “I need you, Kaleb”, he eventually whispered softly.

“There’s…” Wow, it was kind of jarring to talk right now. “There’s an explanation for this. Sure of it- sure that we.. Got down an’ dirty last night?” It’d certainly explain the lack of clothing, but then again he could’ve just made an absolute fool out of himself. Just feeling his bare arms rub against the bed sheets made him want to smash his head against the headboard. Donovan never made it a habit to have his forearms exposed. Except for the times where he got so fucking wasted that he just so happened to forget about that. As he spoke he shrugged and then kept his arms down to hide the two hideous scars that ran from his wrists to the crook of his elbows. He did it as normally as he could of course, but he could’ve been off-kilter with it since he had a raging headache from being hungover. 

August was just about to come to wake up his night guest who he had carried into his guest bedroom. But seemed like the man was already awake. “Good morning”, he said with a friendly smile. “No, nothing dirty happened”, he assured. “I was coming home from work and you were rather drunk and it looked like you had decided to fall asleep in the dumpster, so I persuaded you to sleep in my guest bedroom instead. You gave up the idea of climbing in the dumpster”, August explained to the man. “My name is August and you are at my house at Marseilles.”

“I think every child wants to be an astronaut when they’re young, was about eleven when I wanted to be one. Instead, I would spend time photographing the moon and stars through a telescope. You’re a chef? Do you have a restaurant here in town?” Mira became excited, mostly because she loved to cook herself. “If I wasn’t doing what I was doing today, I would probably be working in culinary. You’re a native– that means you know all the good spots in town. No, only about a month.”

“My want for being an astronaut continued rather late of age“, he admitted with a smile. He still felt a bit bad he actually didn’t become an astronaut, but well, life took you to places and August had ended up becoming a chef. “No, not my own restaurant. But there are few cooking books with my recipes in them”, he said as a slight blush came on his face. He always felt so weird when he spoke about the stuff that had his name on them, especially when the cooking books hadn’t even been his idea in the first place and he just gave them his recipes letting them take pictures of him and the dishes. “What do you do now if you aren’t an astronaut or a chef?” August asked as he tried to steer the talk away from himself. “But yes, almost forty years of watching this town.”

“Well it’s stupid that people have a norm about jewelry and watches” Toni rolled her eyes, more in a playful manner. “I’m going to get it and see what my brother says about it. Oh and I would totally go with this one for you” She said pointing to the one of Saturn

August smiled and nodded his head softly. He looked back at the jewelry and then the Saturn she was pointing at. “You do?” he asked as he picked it up. It really was a beautiful one and August had always liked Saturn as a planet. “It really is beautiful”, he said as his smile got a bit bigger. “Maybe I’ll really take it.”

“No, not bad at all. I’m just a little out of practice.” He forced himself to put his attention on his food and give the man his peace. The muffin was delicious. It reminded him of when his sister would set chocolate bars on a sunny window sill and then they’d cut off the top and pour the gooey melted mess right into their mouths. Angelica hadn’t spoken to him since his third relapse in rehab. She couldn’t forgive or trust him and he understood that. That train of thought was dangerous though. His head snapped up and he was suddenly keen on continuing the conversation about the weather. A small part of his brain felt guilty for bothering the man across from him. “I’m from Texas so the heat doesn’t bother me too much, but the humidity here is definitely gonna take some getting used to.” 

“But practice makes a champion”, he said with a friendly smile. August didn’t mind the silence that fell between them, he just kept on watching the people and drinking his coffee in a slow pace with a tiny smile on his lips. Although when the man spoke again his attention was back on him. “I’ve never been in Texas, but I’ve heard the weather is a lot dryer there than up here. But I’m sure you’ll get used to our weather eventually as well. Have you been here long or are you just visiting?”